Turn signal unit for an external mirror

ABSTRACT

A turn signal unit for an external mirror for a motor vehicle is designed to radiate a flashing light forwards in the direction of travel with the turn signal unit and the external mirror in the installation position at the side of the vehicle. The turn signal unit includes a light source and a lens disposed in front of the light source. A film with alternating light transmissive and non-light transmissive structures is clamped in the space between the light source and the lens. The film is clamped via a clamping structure which includes structure that is part of the lens and/or a housing portion of the turn signal unit.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The invention is based on a priority patent application DE 10 2016 212527.3, filed Jul. 8, 2016, which is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of exteriorrearview mirror assemblies for vehicles and, more particularly, exteriorrearview mirror assemblies that include a turn signal unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

External mirrors that comprise a turn signal unit are well known. Theyare increasingly popular additional turn signal devices in motorvehicles and on the one hand increase the safety of the vehicle and onthe other hand enhance the vehicle aesthetically.

Various embodiments of external mirrors with integrated turn signals areknown, for example from US 2007/0279923 A1.

A light window for an illuminated unit in an external mirror arrangementis known from DE 10 2011 103 200 A1, wherein the light window is matchedto the external contour of the housing of the external mirrorarrangement and the light window closes an opening in the housing of theexternal mirror arrangement, and wherein the light window acts as alight conductor and comprises output coupling structures at one point atleast of the light window, wherein the light window is made of anoptical film with a sprayed-on coating that is implemented as a lightconductor, and wherein the optical film contains at least one outputcoupling structure. Features such as captions can be integrated withinthe film. The film is completely integrated within a plastic materialforming the coating and a protective layer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a turn signal unit for an external mirrorfor a motor vehicle, wherein the turn signal unit is arranged to radiatea flashing light forwards in the direction of travel with the turnsignal unit and the external mirror in the installation position andconcerns an external mirror comprising such a turn signal unit.

It is an object of the invention to provide a turn signal unit for anexternal mirror for a motor vehicle, wherein the optical design of theturn signal unit can be altered simply and inexpensively for varioustypes of vehicles or various vehicles.

The object is achieved by a turn signal unit for an external mirror fora motor vehicle, wherein the turn signal unit is designed to radiateflashing light forwards in the direction of travel in the installationposition, wherein the turn signal unit comprises a light source and alens disposed in front of the light source, and wherein a film withalternating light transmissive and non-light transmissive structures isclamped in the space between the light source and the lens.

In this case, “in front of” according to the invention means in theillumination direction and thereby also forwards in the direction oftravel of the motor vehicle—accordingly “behind” refers to the reversedirection, i.e., opposite to the illumination direction of the turnsignal.

According to the invention, a film is disposed between the light sourceand the lens, which preferably forms the outer boundary of the turnsignal unit, and is fixed by clamping. The film carries alternatinglight transmissive and non-light transmissive structures, i.e.,structured sections, so that it structures the emanating light duringflashing and can form patterns, styles, captions, logos and similar forexample.

The film is clamped and preferably not fixed in other ways in the turnsignal unit; in particular it is not glued or sprayed, so that the filmcan easily be replaced.

This enables the optical design of the turn signal unit to be changedvery simply and inexpensively for different types of vehicle or vehiclesduring the manufacture thereof, or even thereafter depending on theimplementation by replacing the film.

The alternating light transmissive and non-light transmissive structuresof the film preferably form a pattern, in particular a visuallyappealing design, a caption and/or a logo.

The turn signal unit preferably comprises an aperture or element betweenthe light source and the lens. The film can then preferably be clampedby the aperture or element and the lens, i.e., be clamped between theaperture element and the lens. The aperture element and the lens canhave approximately the same size.

The turn signal unit preferably comprises a housing floor behind thelight source. The film can be clamped by the housing floor and the lens.The housing floor can likewise be of a similar size to the lens and canpreferably be slightly larger than the lens and can hold the lens and/oraccommodate the lens as a frame.

If the turn signal unit comprises a housing floor behind the lightsource and an aperture or element between the light source and the lens,the film can be clamped by the housing floor and the aperture element. Aclamping effect can also be achieved by the housing floor, aperture andlens together.

The housing floor and/or the aperture element and/or the lens preferablycomprises at least one shape that is designed to clamp the film in anon-slip manner, in particular a flange that can be oriented parallel tothe film, or a spring element or a groove element. As a result, the filmcan in particular be clamped between two flange surfaces and/or betweengroove and spring elements.

The light source of the turn signal unit can preferably be formed by alight conductor and/or by LEDs.

The lens can also be permanently fixed after attaching the film, inparticular it can be welded to the housing.

A plurality of films can also be used in a turn signal unit according tothe invention, preferably with all films being clamped.

An external mirror according to the invention for a motor vehiclecomprises a turn signal unit as described above. In the case of aninstalled external mirror, the turn signal unit is disposed in theexternal mirror such that the flashing light is essentially radiatedforwards in the direction of travel, and in doing so passes through theclamped film with light transmissive and non-light transmissivestructures. The film acts as a mask for the flashing light in order tocombine the forward-radiating light field of the turn signal withoptical structures, such as patterns, captions or logos. The opticalstructures are preferably only visible, or only markedly visible, if theturn signal is active.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described below by way of example with reference to thefigures.

FIG. 1 is an exploded representation of a turn signal unit according tothe invention for an external mirror.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a turn signal unit according to theinvention in a further embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a turn signal unit according to theinvention in a further embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1, a turn signal unit according to the invention for an externalmirror for a motor vehicle is shown in an exploded representation. Theturn signal unit comprises—looking in the direction of travel of thevehicle and in the illumination direction of the turn signal unit, whichis at the upper edge of the image in FIG. 1—the following componentsfrom the rear forwards: a housing floor 5 that acts as a support for theturn signal unit, a control unit 9, which can be implemented as a PCBA(Printed Circuit Board Assembly) and that can form an electrical inputor optical input for a light source, a light source 1, which isimplemented as a light conductor, an aperture or element 4 thatcomprises in the centre thereof an opening for the passage of light andcomprises a non-light transmissive frame, a film 3 with alternatinglight transmissive and non-light transmissive structures, i.e. a patternthat acts as a mask for the passage of light, and an at least partlylight transmissive lens 2 forming the boundary and front housingcomponent of the turn signal unit.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the film 3 is clamped between the flangesurfaces 6 of the aperture or element 4 on the one hand and the lens 2on the other hand and can thus in particular be simply removed from theturn signal unit following removal of the lens 2 and replaced.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show further possibilities for the arrangement andclamping of the film 3 in a turn signal unit in sectionalrepresentations.

Here in FIG. 2 the film 3 is directly clamped between the lens 2 and thehousing floor 5. In addition to mutually parallel flange surfaces 6, insaid embodiment spring elements 7 are formed on the lens 2 to clamp thefilm 3.

The version of a turn signal unit represented in FIG. 3 comprises anaperture or element 4. The film 3 is clamped here by means of groove andspring elements 8, 7 of the aperture or element 4 and housing floor 5.

Of course, the film 3 can also be clamped by a plurality of elements, inparticular by the interaction of the lens 2, aperture or element 4 andhousing floor 5.

REFERENCE CHARACTER LIST

-   -   1 light source    -   2 lens    -   3 film    -   4 aperture or element    -   5 housing floor    -   6 flange    -   7 spring element    -   8 groove element    -   9 control unit

The invention claimed is:
 1. A turn signal unit for an external mirrorfor a motor vehicle, wherein the turn signal unit is designed to radiatea flashing light forwards in the direction of travel with the turnsignal unit and the external mirror in the installation position, theturn signal unit comprising: a housing, a light source and a lensdisposed in front of the light source and attached at the housing; anaperture element disposed between the light source and the lens; a filmwith alternating light transmissive and non-light transmissivestructures, wherein the film is clamped in the space between the lightsource and the lens via a clamping structure; and wherein the clampingstructure comprises (i) a perimeter flange of the aperture element and(ii) a clamping portion of the housing or lens, and wherein the film isclamped between the perimeter flange of the aperture element and theclamping portion, whereby light emitted by the light source, whenpowered, passes through the film and through an aperture of the apertureelement and through the lens.
 2. The turn signal unit according to claim1, wherein the alternating light transmissive and non-light transmissivestructures form a pattern comprising a caption and/or a logo.
 3. Theturn signal unit according to claim 1, wherein the clamping structurecomprises the perimeter flange of the aperture element and a clampingportion of the lens.
 4. The turn signal unit according to claim 1,wherein the clamping structure comprises the perimeter flange of theaperture element and a clamping portion of the housing.
 5. The turnsignal unit according to claim 1, wherein the turn signal unit comprisesa housing floor behind the light source and an element between the lightsource and the lens.
 6. The turn signal unit according to claim 1,wherein the housing and/or the lens comprises at least one shape that isdesigned to clamp the film in a non-slip manner.
 7. The turn signal unitaccording to claim 6, wherein the shape comprises a spring element thatis configured to be partially received in a groove element, and whereinthe film is clamped by the spring element and part of the film beingreceived in the groove element.
 8. The turn signal unit according toclaim 1, wherein the light source is selected from the group consistingof a light conductor and at least one light emitting diode.
 9. Anexternal mirror for a motor vehicle, wherein the external mirror isconfigured to be disposed at a side of a vehicle equipped with theexternal mirror, the external mirror comprising: a turn signal unit,wherein the turn signal unit, when the external mirror is disposed at aside of an equipped vehicle, is operable to emit light in the forwarddirection of travel of the equipped vehicle; wherein the turn signalunit comprises a housing portion, a light source and a lens, and whereinthe lens is disposed in front of the light source and wherein the lensis attached at the housing portion; wherein a film is disposed betweenthe lens and the housing portion so as to be in front of the lightsource; wherein the film is clamped in place between the light sourceand the lens via a clamping structure; wherein the film comprisesalternating light transmissive and non-light transmissive structures;wherein, with the external mirror disposed at the side of the equippedvehicle, light emitted by the light source, when powered, passes throughthe film and the lens in the direction of forward travel of the equippedvehicle; wherein the turn signal unit comprises an aperture elementdisposed between the light source and the lens; and wherein the clampingstructure comprises a perimeter flange of the aperture element and aperimeter flange of the lens such that the film is clamped between theperimeter flange of the lens and the perimeter flange of the apertureelement, whereby light emitted by the light source, when powered, passesthrough the film and through an aperture of the aperture element andthrough the lens.
 10. The external mirror according to claim 9, whereinthe alternating light transmissive and non-light transmissive structuresof the film comprise structured sections such that light emitted by thelight source, when powered, passes through the film and forms patternsor logos.
 11. The external mirror according to claim 9, wherein theclamping structure comprises a perimeter flange of the housing portionand a perimeter flange of the lens such that the film is clamped betweenthe perimeter flange of the lens and the perimeter flange of the housingportion.
 12. An external mirror for a motor vehicle, wherein theexternal mirror is configured to be disposed at a side of a vehicleequipped with the external mirror, the external mirror comprising: aturn signal unit, wherein the turn signal unit, when the external mirroris disposed at a side of an equipped vehicle, is operable to emit lightin the forward direction of travel of the equipped vehicle; wherein theturn signal unit comprises a housing portion, a light source and a lens,and wherein the lens is disposed in front of the light source andwherein the lens is attached at the housing portion; wherein a film isdisposed between the lens and the housing portion so as to be in frontof the light source; wherein the film is clamped in place between thelight source and the lens via a clamping structure; wherein the filmcomprises alternating light transmissive and non-light transmissivestructures; wherein, with the external mirror disposed at the side ofthe equipped vehicle, light emitted by the light source, when powered,passes through the film and the lens in the direction of forward travelof the equipped vehicle; wherein the turn signal unit comprises anaperture element disposed between the light source and the lens; andwherein the clamping structure comprises a perimeter flange of theaperture element and a clamping portion of the housing portion such thatthe film is clamped between the perimeter flange of the aperture elementand the clamping portion of the housing portion, whereby light emittedby the light source, when powered, passes through the film and throughan aperture of the aperture element and through the lens.
 13. Theexternal mirror according to claim 12, wherein the clamping structurecomprises a groove element at one of the perimeter flange of theaperture element and the clamping portion of the housing portion and aprotruding element at the other of the perimeter flange of the apertureelement and the clamping portion of the housing portion, and wherein thefilm is clamped by the protruding element and part of the film beingreceived in the groove element.
 14. The external mirror according toclaim 12, wherein the alternating light transmissive and non-lighttransmissive structures of the film comprise structured sections suchthat light emitted by the light source, when powered, passes through thefilm and forms patterns or logos.
 15. The external mirror according toclaim 12, wherein the clamping structure comprises a perimeter flange ofthe housing portion and a perimeter flange of the lens such that thefilm is clamped between the perimeter flange of the lens and theperimeter flange of the housing portion.
 16. The external mirroraccording to claim 12, wherein the turn signal unit comprises anaperture element disposed between the light source and the lens.